She’s got nothing to prove, and I really don’t think that’s why Jeanne Socrates is sailing around the world solo, nonstop, again at age 76. I’ve had the good fortune to speak with and correspond with Jeanne, and while she’s proud of her accomplishments it’s pretty clear her offshore voyaging is much more organic than that. She likes to see the world, and she apparently loves being offshore, so it seems natural. If she succeeds, she’ll be the oldest person (any gender) to sail solo around the world. Currently she’s the oldest woman to have done it at age 70.
She left the dock at Victoria on October 3 on her Najad 380 Nereida.
Everyone from the youngest Opti sailor to the oldest offshore cruiser should take heart from her spirit. She’s optimistic and indefatigable, having had to turn back twice in 2016 because of extreme weather and having to cancel last year’s attempt due to broken bones. All healed and out of her neck brace, Socrates was ready for casting off last week.
There’s a good Times Colonist (Victoria) article here. I’ll check in on her progress periodically. You can check on her current position here. The keepers of her website have already increased capacity to keep up with the demand. It seems everyone’s pulling for her – and should!
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.